Gentle Giants: 5 Videos of Big Dogs With Babies

Big dogs can be gentle with babies, and the five videos below show five dogs doing it: an Alaskan Malamute, a Siberian Husky, a German Shepherd, a Great Dane, and a Golden Retriever. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) gives one rule for all of them: “Never leave a small child and a dog alone together, no matter if it is the family dog, a dog that is known to you, or a dog that you have been assured is well behaved. Any dog can bite.” The sections after the videos cover ratings, research, stress signs, a newborn’s first meeting with a dog, and what to do after a bite.

Sweet Malamute Babysitting

The video is titled “Alaskan Malamute Evo Babysitting (Cute Baby with Cute Dog).” Its description says Evo is “taking care of a 4 month's old Adam.” The American Kennel Club (AKC) calls the Alaskan Malamute “an affectionate, loyal, and playful but dignified dog.”

Husky Plays Gently With a Baby

The video is titled “Siberian Husky plays gently with baby,” and its description calls the baby “seven-month-old.” The AKC describes the Siberian Husky as “a thickly coated, compact sled dog of medium size and great endurance” and says “This northern breed is friendly, fastidious, and dignified.”

Baby Falls Asleep on a German Shepherd

The video is titled “Baby Loves German Shepherd, Falls Asleep On German Shepherd.” Its description says the baby, Madison, “sometimes even fall asleep on them,” and the person who posted it writes: “Ryder my German Shepherd is so patient with the baby and protective of her.” The AKC calls the German Shepherd Dog “Loyal, confident, courageous, and steady.”

Great Dane Plays With a Baby

The video is titled “Great Dane playing with baby.” The AKC calls the Great Dane “easygoing.”

Golden Retriever Meets a Newborn

The video is titled “Ben and Chesty meet and greet,” and its description says “Golden retriever meets new born baby.” The AKC describes the Golden Retriever as “an exuberant Scottish gundog of great beauty.”

How the AKC Rates Big Breeds With Young Children

Each AKC breed page has a trait called Good With Young Children, rated from 1 to 5. The scale runs from “Not Recommended” at 1 to “With Supervision” at 3 and “Good With Children” at 5. For every breed, the AKC defines the trait this way: “Dogs should always be supervised around young children, or children of any age who have little exposure to dogs.”

The AKC calls the Siberian Husky medium size and lists males at 45-60 pounds. A rating of 5 does not remove the need to supervise, because the AKC’s own definition of the trait says dogs should always be supervised around young children.

What Research Says About Children and Family Dogs

Studies show some links between family dogs and child development. One of them is a prospective birth cohort from the Japan Environment and Children’s Study. It used data on 78,941 children and looked at development at 3 years of age. The authors report that children with “ever” family dog ownership “showed a significantly decreased risk of developmental delay in the communication (odds ratio [OR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78, 0.96), gross motor (OR = 0.83; 95% CI: 0.76, 0.92), problem-solving (OR = 0.89; 95% CI: 0.83, 0.96) and personal-social (OR = 0.86; 95% CI: 0.72, 0.92) domains compared to children with “never” family dog ownership.” They describe the result as a “possible positive association.”

Never Leave a Baby Alone With Any Dog

The AKC trainer page gives the same rule in its own words: “At no time should a small child be left alone with a dog, no matter the age, breed, size, or temperament of the canine.” It adds: “Never leave a baby on the floor with a dog, even if you are there next to them. A nervous dog can move very quickly.”

The AKC also says: “When a dog bites a child, it is most often the family pet reacting in his own home. These types of bites are also more likely to cause severe injury.” For dogs and toddlers, the AAP says: “Never bother a dog that is sleeping, eating, or caring for puppies. Dogs in these situations are more likely to respond aggressively, even with a person who is familiar to them.”

Signs a Dog Needs Space

The AKC says: “Dogs that are stressed or worried about a baby or toddler give subtle signals that they need space.” It adds: “A dog won’t necessarily get up and move away from a baby or toddler. That’s why it’s important for an adult to watch for signs of stress in a dog and act quickly to separate the canine and baby, if need be.” The signals are in the card below.

The AKC says: “Do not punish the dog for showing signs of concern. Instead, send him calmly to a bed, crate, or gated area with a fun chew toy.” Its advice for before the baby comes home is: “When you cannot actively supervise your dog with your baby, send him to one of these spots.”

Bringing a Newborn Home to a Big Dog

Introducing an infant to a dog starts with the ride home, according to the ASPCA: “When bringing your baby home from the hospital, send everyone else into the house first so your dog can express her usual excitement to see people. After she’s had a minute or two of greeting time and expends some of her energy, have someone leash her.” The ASPCA also says: “It’s crucial to stay calm and relaxed when you and the baby enter the house.”

For the first meeting, the ASPCA says: “Choose a quiet room, and sit down with the baby in your arms.” It also says: “Never force your dog to interact with your baby. Let her approach him on her own.” The ASPCA says to “Praise your dog for any calm interest in the baby.”

The ASPCA names one cause of trouble: “Some dogs don’t fear babies, but they become aggressive when guarding their food, toys or chew bones.”

Training and Rewards

VCA Animal Hospitals, in an article by veterinary behaviorists Debra Horwitz, DVM, DACVB, and Gary Landsberg, DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM, says: “The most important aspect of retraining is to reward the pet for obedient and relaxed behavior in the presence of the child.” Rewarding calm behavior with praise and treats is positive reinforcement.

The ASPCA says: “If someone in your family has time, consider taking your dog to a group obedience class or hiring a private trainer to show you how to teach the basics in your own home.” Read more about social enrichment.

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How Often Dogs Bite Children

There have been stories of children being bitten by dogs. A Journal of Craniofacial Surgery study of pediatric dog bite injuries in the United States from 2015 to 2020 included 56,106 patients. The abstract reports: “Most common bite location was the head (62.1%), followed by the upper extremity (25.1%).” It reports that 8.0% of patients required repair in the operating suite, and it concludes: “Toddlers disproportionately suffer injuries to the head, with a trend towards upper extremity bites in teenagers.”

The AAP says: “Each year, more than 4.5 million people in the U.S. are bitten by dogs, and of the 800,000 Americans who receive medical attention for dog bites, at least half are children.” Read more: dog bite prevention tips for kids and the one bite rule.

What to Do If a Dog Bites a Child

The AAP gives these steps if a dog bites a child:

• “Immediately wash out the wound with soap and water.”
• “Call your pediatrician because the bite could require antibiotics, a tetanus shot, and/or rabies shots.”
• “If your child is severely bitten, call 9-1-1 or bring your child to an emergency department for treatment.”

FAQ

Are dogs dangerous around babies?

The AAP says “Any dog can bite,” and the AKC says that “The unusual sounds and unpredictable movements of babies and small children can trigger arousal in any dog and can lead to bites.” The sections above give the AAP, AKC, and ASPCA advice on supervision and introductions.

What big dogs are good with babies?

The table above lists the AKC rating for eight big breeds. The AKC says the Newfoundland “has earned a reputation as a patient and watchful “nanny dog” for kids” and says the Bernese Mountain Dog is “blessed with a sweet, affectionate nature.” The AKC rates the Great Dane and the Alaskan Malamute 3, “With Supervision,” and the other six breeds 5, “Good With Children.”

Do dogs lick babies because they love them?

The AKC says: “Dogs don’t show affection by giving kisses or hugs, and it’s a common myth that licking is a sign of love for a new baby. Licking, sniffing, and mouthing are exploratory behaviors and can be a sign of stress. Never allow your dog to lick or “kiss” the baby.”

Want to see more stories of babies and dogs playing together? Check out how this husky imitates baby voices in this adorable YouTube video.

Sources

• YouTube, “Alaskan Malamute Evo Babysitting (Cute Baby with Cute Dog)”: youtube.com.
• YouTube, “Siberian Husky plays gently with baby”: youtube.com.
• YouTube, “Baby Loves German Shepherd, Falls Asleep On German Shepherd.”: youtube.com.
• YouTube, “Great Dane playing with baby”: youtube.com.
• YouTube, “Ben and Chesty meet and greet”: youtube.com.
• American Kennel Club, Alaskan Malamute breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Siberian Husky breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, German Shepherd Dog breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Great Dane breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Golden Retriever breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Newfoundland breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Bernese Mountain Dog breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, Boxer breed page: akc.org.
• American Kennel Club, “Ask Our Trainers: How Can I Keep My Baby Safe Around the Dog?”: akc.org.
• American Academy of Pediatrics, “Dog Bite Prevention Tips”: healthychildren.org.
• ASPCA, “Preparing Your Dog for a New Baby”: aspca.org.
• VCA Animal Hospitals, “Children and Pets”: vcahospitals.com.
• Plana, N. M. et al. “Pediatric Dog Bite Injuries: A 5-Year Nationwide Study and Implications of the COVID-19 Pandemic.” Journal of Craniofacial Surgery, 2022 (abstract): journals.lww.com.
• “Association between Early Life Child Development and Family Dog Ownership: A Prospective Birth Cohort Study of the Japan Environment and Children’s Study.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2021 (abstract): pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.